Slitter-scorer machine with suction system for removing trims

Abstract

The slitter-scorer machine includes a suction unit for removing trims cut by the cutting blades. The suction unit in turn includes a first pair of suction nozzles associated with a first set of cutting tools, and a second pair of suction nozzles, associated with a second set of cutting tools. The first pair of suction nozzles is adapted to suck trims generated by the first set of cutting tools and the second pair of suction nozzles is adapted to suck trims generated by the second set of cutting tools.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A slitter-scorer machine for scoring and slitting a corrugated cardboard web, comprising:
 a feed path of the corrugated cardboard web; and 
 arranged in either upstream sequence or in downstream sequence along the feed path, a scoring unit and a slitting unit; 
 wherein the slitting unit includes in sequence along the feed path through the slitting unit at least two sets of cutting tools comprising at least a first set of cutting tools and a second set of cutting tools arranged downstream of the first set of cutting tools with respect to a direction of advancement of the corrugated cardboard web along the feed path, wherein each of said first set of cutting tools and said second set of cutting tools is adapted to cut the corrugated cardboard web longitudinally into a plurality of longitudinal strips and into two lateral trims; 
 and, associated with the slitting unit, a suction unit for removing said two lateral trims, 
 wherein the suction unit comprises a first pair of suction nozzles associated with the first set of cutting tools and arranged between the first set of cutting tools and the second set of cutting tools, and a second pair of suction nozzles, associated with the second set of cutting tools and arranged downstream of the second set of cutting tools with respect to the direction of advancement of the corrugated cardboard; wherein the first pair of suction nozzles is adapted to suck leading edges of continuous trims and leading edges of discontinuous trims generated by the first set of cutting tools and the second pair of suction nozzles is adapted to suck leading edges of continuous trims and leading edges of discontinuous trims generated by the second set of cutting tools; 
 wherein a first suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles is rigidly connected to a first suction nozzle of the second pair of suction nozzles; and wherein a second suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles is rigidly connected to a second suction nozzle of the second pair of suction nozzles; wherein the respective first suction nozzles of the first pair of suction nozzles and of the second pair of suction nozzles are positioned on a first side of the feed path, and the respective second suction nozzles of the first pair of suction nozzles and of the second pair of suction nozzles are positioned on a second side of the feed path; 
 and wherein each respective one of the first suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles and the first suction nozzle of the second pair of suction nozzles are movable together as a single unit transversely to the feed path, and each respective one of the second suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles and the second suction nozzle of the second pair of suction nozzles are movable together as a single unit transversely to the feed path to adapt to the position of the trims generated by respective ones of said first set of cutting tools and said second set of cutting tools. 
 
     
     
       2. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 1 , wherein the slitting unit is positioned downstream of the scoring unit; and
 wherein a single actuator provides movement to simultaneously adjust nozzles of the first pair of suction nozzles and nozzles of the second pair of suction nozzles transversely to the feed path. 
 
     
     
       3. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 1 , wherein the suction nozzles of the first pair of suction nozzles are adapted to move transversely to the feed path symmetrically to one another; and wherein the suction nozzles of the second pair of suction nozzles are adapted to move transversely to the feed path symmetrically to one another. 
     
     
       4. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of suction nozzles and the second pair of suction nozzles are in communication with a common suction system. 
     
     
       5. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 4 , wherein the common suction system comprises selector members, to generate suction selectively through the first pair of suction nozzles and through the second pair of suction nozzles. 
     
     
       6. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 4 , wherein the common suction system comprises:
 a first suction duct fluidly coupled to a first suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles and to a first suction nozzle of the second pair of suction nozzles; 
 a second suction duct fluidly coupled to a second suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles and to a second suction nozzle of the second pair of suction nozzles; 
 
       wherein the respective first suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles and of the second pair of suction nozzles are positioned on a first side of the feed path, and the respective second suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles and of the second pair of suction nozzles are positioned on a second side of the feed path. 
     
     
       7. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 1 , comprising, on each side of the feed path, a respective slide, and wherein each said respective slide supports a suction nozzle of the first pair of suction nozzles and a suction nozzle of the second pair of suction nozzles. 
     
     
       8. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 7 , wherein each said respective slide is movable along a system of common guides integral with a load-bearing structure. 
     
     
       9. The slitter-scorer machine of  claim 1 , wherein the scoring unit comprises a plurality of scoring sets positioned in sequence along the feed path and adapted to be activated selectively. 
     
     
       10. A slitter-scorer machine for scoring and slitting a corrugated cardboard web, comprising:
 a feed path of the corrugated cardboard web; and 
 arranged in either upstream sequence or in downstream sequence along the feed path, a scoring unit and a slitting unit; 
 wherein the slitting unit includes in sequence along the feed path through the slitting unit at least two sets of cutting tools comprising at least a first set of cutting tools and a second set of cutting tools arranged downstream of the first set of cutting tools with respect to a direction of advancement of the corrugated cardboard web along the feed path, wherein each of said first set of cutting tools and said second set of cutting tools is adapted to cut the corrugated cardboard web longitudinally into a plurality of longitudinal strips and into two lateral trims; 
 and, associated with the slitting unit, a suction unit for removing said two lateral trims, 
 wherein the suction unit comprises a first pair of suction nozzles associated with the first set of cutting tools and arranged between the first set of cutting tools and the second set of cutting tools, and a second pair of suction nozzles, associated with the second set of cutting tools and arranged downstream of the second set of cutting tools with respect to the direction of advancement of the corrugated cardboard web; wherein the first pair of suction nozzles is adapted to suck leading edges of continuous trims and leading edges of discontinuous trims generated by the first set of cutting tools and the second pair of suction nozzles is adapted to suck leading edges of continuous trims and leading edges of discontinuous trims generated by the second set of cutting tools; 
 wherein each suction nozzle of said first pair of suction nozzles and of said second pair of suction nozzles are movable transversely to the feed path, to adapt to the position of the trims generated by respective ones of said first set of cutting tools and said second set of cutting tools; and 
 further comprising a single actuator to provide movement to simultaneously adjust nozzles of the first pair of suction nozzles and nozzles of the second pair of suction nozzles transversely to the feed path.